Author's posts
Jul 01
Martin Gilens’ Affluence & Influence (2012): A Review
by Dr. Roger I. Roots There is a book (and several studies) by Princeton Sociologist Martin Gilens making the rounds among “campaign finance reformers” of late. Gilens purports to have analyzed extensive data regarding the political preferences of the affluent, the middle class, and the poor, and to have distinguished between the three. The book …
Jul 01
Greek Social Security checks are withheld from retirees as Greece defaults on national debt
Have you ever wondered about the future of American Social Security? What will happen when liabilities are larger than the credit of the country? A story today on Yahoo News revealed that retired Greeks who traditionally draw their government pensions in cash from their local banks are now finding that the banks only allow small …
Jun 29
Long-term artificially-low interest rates are causing lower productivity across Europe
In a previous post, we alerted readers to a recent report that worldwide central banking has kept interest rates so artificially low for so long that “experts” now doubt whether central bankers can “fix” any future financial crisis. The Telegraph story is here. The same report also warned that these artificially low interest rates have …
Jun 29
London Telegraph: “the world is defenseless against future financial crises”
An amazing news report in the (formerly London) Telegraph this week. The Telegraph reports that the world’s central banks have kept interest rates so artificially low for so long (mostly to allegedly “fix” financial crises in the near past) that the central banks will have no possible way to “fix” any future financial downturns. The …
Jun 29
Puerto Rican Governor admits that the Island’s $72 billion debt is “not payable.”
In the wake of the bankruptcy and default of the Greek government, and the forced closure of all Greek banks for a week, the New York Times is reporting statements by the Governor of Puerto Rico that the island can never repay its $72 billion debt. Like Greece (and many or most modern Keynsian-economics-driven governments), …
Jun 29
Some 95 % of New Yorkers who own “assault weapons” appear to be disobeying a recent State law requiring them to register.
Gun controllers often promise that their “registration” schemes will never be used to confiscate firearms. They push for laws that require all gun owners (or owners of certain types of guns) to “register” their guns with government officials. It’s just a public safety measure, the gun controllers will often say. But a decade after California …
Jun 29
Guantanamo inmates deteriorating after multi-year hunger strikes
Who would have predicted 20 years ago that the United States would erect a prison system to hold inmates for life without charges, due process or evidence? The U.S. concentration camp at Guantanamo is approaching its 15th anniversary, and dozens of inmates continue to be held without charge. The Center for Constitutional Rights is reporting …
Jun 28
Bernie Sanders Says He will “Make Corporations Pay Their fair share” even as the U.S. has the world’s highest corporate tax rates.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist-Vt), is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for President. His stump speech reportedly contains a promise to raise taxes on corporations and make them pay their “fair share.” The problem is that the U.S. already has the world’s highest corporate tax rates. Hundreds of corporations are fleeing the U.S., looking for …
Jun 28
Greek society has been destroyed by welfare and government spending.
Today, June 28, 2015: Greek and European central bankers have declared an incredible SIX-DAY CLOSURE of Greece’s banks. Greece has been bankrupted by years of welfare spending, punishment of savers and entrepreneurs, and overregulation. Now the once-proud-but-now-bankrupt nation will experience the final wages of socialism and extravagant social spending: massive poverty, unemployment, debt and perpetual …
Jun 28
“Campaign Finance Reformers” Complain Only About Private-Sector Political Spending—While Ignoring Government Political Spending
NFL football games regularly feature displays honoring the U.S. military: moments of silence, speeches and videos honoring the troops, and even synchronized air force “flyovers” in which F-16 jets fly over NFL stadiums in formation while fans cheer. It came out in March 2015 that everything—even the moments of silence—are paid for by the U.S. …
